What is NLP?

It would appear that the older NLP becomes (it’s over 30 years old) the more definitions evolve to describe it and depending on how one views the world there is no single definition that captures the spirit of NLP entirely. And it is the spirit of NLP that sets it apart from so many other modalities.

NLP is well known for it’s applications in the field of therapy and counselling but there are many other areas in which NLP can be applied.

NLP is essentially about behavioural modelling which means that any task or skill done well (or excellently) can be decoded and replicated so that others can learn to do the same skill or task. It’s this aspect of NLP (the modelling) that means NLP is so widely applied. NLP is often referred to as a meta-discipline (or an approach that informs many approaches).

Dr Richard Bandler who is widely regarded as the Co-Founder of NLP defines NLP as ‘an attitude and methodology that leaves behind a trail of techniques’.

A more formal definition would look something like this:

Neuro: Our nervous system, brain/mind and how that interacts with the body.

Linguistic: The words and language we use. Language can be verbal and non verbal.

Programming: Is the habits of thought (often unconscious) that lead to habits of behaviour. By discovering these with NLP you can then decide whether they work well for you or lead you to be unhappy and unfulfilled. This places you in a great position of CHOICE about whether you would like to change them.

NLP can be applied in the following areas:

Coaching, therapy and counselling to accellerate the changes with clients by looking at the processes that underlie a particular pattern, emotion or habit.

Education and training to promote and accelerate learning and memory. NLP is also a valuable tool for teaching and design methods.

Personal development to remove unresourceful emotions and patters while promoting confidence and self esteem.

Business to enhance communication and negotiation skills.

Sports to enhance performance.

Parenting to assist in clear communication with children from the start.